A teenager is set to leave the country to begin life-saving treatment this weekend.

Sam John, who has an inoperable brain tumour, is set to head for America on Sunday for treatment after it began growing again.

His family and friends had been trying to raise money to fund the treatment, which will now be paid for on the NHS.

The 16-year-old, from Fareham, will be accompanied on the trip by his mum Vickie, 38, dad Steve, 44, and brother Matthew, 13.

“He’s really worried, we’re all really worried,” said Vickie.

“Relieved that it’s going to happen, but it’s just quite scary because it’s a huge procedure.

“He’s likely to be quite poorly, but we have no choice, it’s going to happen and that’s the best place for it to happen.”

Sam, of Albert Road, was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour at nine years old. It had been kept at bay after two years’ chemotherapy treatment, but doctors at Southampton General Hospital have told him it has started growing again.

The Daily Echo has previously told how the family launched a campaign to raise at least £100,000 as they were not sure whether Sam’s specialist treatment in America would be funded under current NHS guidelines as he had turned 16.

However, back in April they received the news that the Neville Lovett School pupil’s £114,000 treatment would be covered, as well as his and his parents’ travel expenses, but it is still not certain what else the NHS will fund.

For this reason the family has continued to fundraise to cover any other costs they may incur. Their campaign has now raised £120,000.

Vicki said: “The support we have had from everyone has been unbelievable and we are so grateful.”

The specialist radiotherapy Sam will receive is only available in the US. Although radiation treatment is available here in the UK, the family said that the type of treatment could cause more long-term damage to his healthy brain, leading to memory, concentration and vision problems.

However, they say the proton treatment in America would halve the potential damage. Vicki has said that she has been told that any care needed if Sam gets an infection resulting from the radiation treatment will not be covered by the NHS and the family will need to have money to pay the bills while both parents are off work.

Any money that is left over the family plan to use to help other families in a similar situation needing treatment abroad and they want to start up a charity Mission for Sam to do just that long term.

The next fundraising event is a prom on June 28 at the Fareham Working Men’s Club, in Mill Road, Fareham. The black tie event will feature a buffet, disco and music from the Stereotypes band.